Tag Archives: spiritual assessment

Part of any firefighting school involves a basic review of the 4 stages of fire. Beginning with incipient, fires grow until fully developed, eventually decaying over time due to a lack of energy. A fire needs 3 components to form: an ignition source, oxygen and a fuel source. Sparks trigger the initial flame, but the classification of each fire depends upon the amount of fuel which is available and degree of oxygen inside.

From a spiritual point of view, Christians have another test to determine their condition. As kindling begins to catch, a lukewarm fire is born. If consistently maintained, a fire can blossom into poppers, bursting out of comfort zones, consuming any liquid or sap within wood. Once mature, raging fires blaze, spreading from person to person, as new logs are added. However, if not properly supervised, fires can burn outsiders and lead to flickering embers, prior to dying out.

The Bible contains 3 elements which magnify the amount of spiritual heat a person gives off. First, one must ask, have you seen the light of God’s Word, Acts 9:1-2, while hearing or reading the Bible? Second, have you received the life of God’s Spirit, Acts 9:17, ignited and filled by the power of the Holy Spirit? Finally, have you been compelled to display the love of Jesus, Acts 9:20-22, by sharing your testimony with a person? This assessment, The Fireproof Test, seeks to ascertain whether or not your faith is on fire. If your soul is not consumed by a raging fire, may you see the light, rise to new heights and flourish with God’s might!

by Jay Mankus

ps – The inspiration for this blog came after listening to a sermon from James Merritt, founder of Touching Lives, a ministry on TBN. For music lovers, U2’s The Unforgettable Fire album contains several songs to ignite your journey.